'Natural Mortality Event' For Fish In Rhode Island Draws Attention To Source Water Hypoxia

Despite alarm over numerous reports of dead fish in Rhode Island rivers, experts have assured consumers that they are not the result of water contamination.

“The DEM [Department of Environmental Management] told 12 News they received several reports of dead fish in the Providence and Seekonk rivers and have confirmed they were ‘natural mortality events’ of Atlantic menhaden,” WPRI 12 News reported. “DEM spokesperson Mike Healey said the phenomenon is known as ‘school-induced hypoxia’ — which means the concentration of oxygen within a school of fish changes.”